On a brutal NFL schedule for the Broncos, know who could be the toughest foe quarterback Peyton Manning will have to beat?

Josh McDaniels.

The disaster that was Denver's draft in 2009 has created a crater in the Broncos' roster even the mastery of Manning might not be able to fill.

As running back Knowshon Moreno tried to make a case Sunday that he deserves to remain on the team, his uncertain situation was a stark reminder of what a mess McDaniels made with 10 draft picks during his opening months on the job. Three years later, the Broncos still are feeling the pain.

"Coach is going to have some tough decisions to make," Moreno told me in a nearly deserted Broncos locker room after finally getting some meaningful touches of the football during a 29-24 preseason loss to San Francisco.

Moreno knows the score. Entering his fourth NFL season, being a former first-round draft choice doesn't count for much. In fact, being the centerpiece of an entire Broncos draft that could be condemned as a bust, it might work against him. At this point, Moreno would have to pull an upset to make the team in competition with veteran starter Willis McGahee, rookie Ronnie Hillman, jack-of-all-trades Lance Ball and fullback Chris Gronkowski.

"It's pretty tough at the running back position right now," Moreno said.

He is on the bubble.

"I try not to think about it and let my game speak for itself," Moreno said. "I'm going to let the coaches make those hard decisions. We have a lot of good players on this team."

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With one exhibition game remaining before the opening-day roster is finalized, Moreno told me he was willing to volunteer on special teams for the Broncos.

"Me playing special teams? I haven't taken a snap on special teams, even in practice," said Moreno, coming off knee surgery that cut short his 2011 campaign. "But I'm willing to do whatever I have to do to be on this team and help this team."

The real shame is Denver squandered two chances among the top 18 picks in the 2009 draft. McDaniels used them on Moreno and Robert Ayers, a defensive player from Tennessee who has struggled to find his game at the NFL level.

In the same year, Green Bay used the ninth overall selection to take B.J. Raji, then followed that smart decision by landing linebacker Clay Matthews with the 26th choice. That's how championship teams are built.

The rookie class of 2009 should be the young veteran foundation of the Broncos. Would it be too much to expect at least three or four starters from that draft class hitting their prime as pros? It appears that McDaniels whiffed on Denver's behalf.

Moreno is on shaky ground, even if the Broncos keep five running backs on the 53-man roster. Ayers appeared headed toward the exit door until the injury bug re-opened a spot for him. Every other rookie from 2009 is long gone, save for David Bruton, whose job security is his eye-catching performance on special teams.

After watching his contribution to the Broncos decrease during the course of three seasons, the song remains the same for Moreno, and there's too little sweet music.

Out in space, Moreno can be a matchup headache for any defense. He made two receptions for 26 yards against San Francisco, including a catch in the right flat during the second quarter that featured Moreno avoiding two tackles and using a spin move that was the stuff of video-game dreams.

"In open space, I'm just trying to make those jukes I normally do, and get out there to run," said Moreno, whose limited opportunities made him no better than the sixth-leading rusher on the team through two exhibition games. "This is one of the best weeks I've had."

Taking a handoff, however, there too often is too little thunder or lightning to Moreno's carries. Against the Niners, his five carries for 16 yards were so unspectacular it again became obvious why the Broncos used a draft choice this year on Hillman, brought here to replace Moreno.

One-day event to run slide down University HillIt's not quite the alternative mode of transportation that Boulder's used to, but, for one day this summer, residents will be able to traverse several city blocks atop inflatable tubes.

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